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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card offers some of the best benefits of any credit card on the market. While you probably know about the airport lounge access and annual travel credit, one of the biggest perks is far too little talked about: Chase regularly welcomes cardholders to member lounges at major events around the world. I’ve visited several of these lounges and can safely say that Chase sets the gold standard for these member experiences. In fact, they’re a big reason why it’s a no-brainer to keep the card year after year.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Introductory bonus
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
| Annual fee | $550 |
| Regular annual percentage rate | 22.49%–29.49% variable |
What makes Chase Lounges so special
Chase sets up lounges at major events to give cardholders a special experience. These lounges often provide visitors with free food and drink and sometimes even a few gifts to take home. At certain events, Chase goes a step further and offers visitors the opportunity to meet famous athletes and celebrities.
I have used Chase Lounges at the PGA Championship, the US Open and the Olympics. Most recently, I visited the Chase Reserve Lounge on the Seine at the 2024 Paris Olympics and had a great experience. If lounges were an Olympic event, Chase would have won a gold medal.
A taste of the Paris Olympic Lounge
The lounge was open daily from 11:00 a.m. to midnight for the duration of the Olympic Games (July 27 to August 11). Visitors simply had to show their Chase Sapphire Reserve card to gain access to the lounge; reservations were not necessary. Each cardholder was allowed to bring one guest.
Lounge highlights
As soon as I entered the Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa Lounge, I was given two vouchers, one for an alcoholic beverage and one for a free gift. During my numerous visits to the lounge, I experienced the three decks, each with its own bar, signature cocktails, champagne toasts every time a U.S. athlete won a gold medal, hors d’oeuvres and tasty snacks. The lounge was centrally located on the Seine in Paris, making it the ideal pit stop for a quick respite.
One of my favorite aspects of the lounge was that I could easily watch U.S. Olympians on one of the many TVs. During my time in France, it wasn’t always easy to find events featuring U.S. athletes on TV, which made the lounge a fun hangout for fans of the U.S. team.
The top floor of the lounge was my favorite area. Between the open-air configuration, the stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, and the ice cream truck, I felt right at home. The terrace deck was a great place to cheer on Team USA, enjoy a few cocktails, and meet other ticket holders.
Additional benefits for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders at the Paris Olympics
Thanks to Visa, visitors had the opportunity to reserve a spot to meet Olympic legends. Athletes included Michael Phelps, Tony Parker, Aly Raisman, Allyson Felix and Sue Bird.
One of my favorite perks of Chase Sapphire Reserve was the ability to reserve lunch at Girafe, an iconic Parisian restaurant that offered a special menu by Chef Ignacio Mattos and Chef Charles Ducrocq. The a la carte selections were a combination of Mattos’ seasonally inspired menu, derived from Estela, a modern American restaurant in New York, and perennial favorites from Girafe’s fresh seafood-focused menu, prepared by Chef Charles Ducrocq. The yellowtail sashimi with warm sesame oil and ponzu sauce, the cured tuna with black pil-pil and ponzu, the linguini with tomatoes and basil, and the chocolate cake with whipped cream were delicious, but even more incredible than the delicious food was the view from the outdoor seating—prime, unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower.
US Open Chase Lounge 2024
The US Open Tennis Championships begin August 26 and run through September 8 in Flushing, New York, bringing together the best tennis players in the world. Chase is once again offering cardholders two lounge areas: The Chase Lounge is located in the Chase Center just past the east entrance of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and the Chase Terrace is located in the stands and overlooks Courts 8-10. To gain access to the Chase lounges at the US Open, a visitor only needs to present any Chase credit card, meaning even no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® will grant you access.
I have attended the US Open for the past few years and always enjoy coming to the Chase Lounge and Chase Terrace. I love visiting the Chase Terrace and grabbing a drink to cool off and a seat that is much more comfortable than the bleachers found throughout the tennis center. I have applied sunscreen and charged my phone on the Chase Terrace, both important parts of a successful US Open experience. If you are attending the US Open, I highly recommend visiting the Chase Lounge and Chase Terrace to make the most of your US Open experience.
Chase Lounge
The Chase Lounge offers visitors a respite from the heat with air conditioning, complimentary snacks and soft drinks, a private bar, complimentary hats, custom embroidery, a complimentary happy hour and live ESPN broadcasts. Reservations are required and must be made online (though all reservations are currently filled, you can get on a waitlist).
Chase Terrace
The Chase Terrace, an outdoor area with shaded areas, offers visitors the opportunity to watch tennis on courts 8-10, seating, complimentary snacks and soft drinks, a private bar and more. The Chase Terrace is first come, first served and sometimes the line can get quite long, so plan accordingly.
Additional Chase benefits at the US Open and at Pier 17 in Manhattan
US Open attendees with Chase credit cards can rent free cell phone chargers so you can keep your phone and devices charged throughout the day. Cardholders can also visit the South Plaza Booths, which feature “ATMs” with co-branded giveaways and an immersive photo moment. And in the Seaport Sapphire Lounge, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Reserve Cardholders have access to bookable court times daily through Ultimate Rewards.
Past experiences in the Chase Lounge
To give you an idea of what to expect, here is an overview of some Chase events from the last few months.
Live Nation Events 2024
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders have access to purchase premium experiences and ticket packages for Live Nation music festivals like Boston Calling, Roots Picnic, Lollapalooza and Ocean’s Calling. Some of these events even have a lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders, offering benefits like free snacks throughout the day, a beverage station, daily happy hours with a free drink and more.
Race Week Miami 2024
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders attending Race Week had access to a Chase Lounge, which offered attendees exclusive experiences throughout the weekend and the opportunity to purchase event tickets through the Ultimate Rewards platform.
PGA2024
The Sapphire Reserve Lounge, located on the grounds of Valhalla Golf Club, offered cardholders fresh coffee each morning during the PGA Championship, a bar with specialty drinks and signature cocktails from our spirits partners, an exclusive bar with premium seating with an exclusive patio bar, complimentary beer and wine in the premium seating area and upscale local snacks.
Sundance 2024
Chase Sapphire was the main sponsor of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah for the 14th year. The Chase Sapphire on Main House served as the base of operations for reserve ticketholders and guests visiting Park City during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Pro tip: Some of the perks I got from my Sapphire Reserve were ones I never expected, like access to a Sapphire Reserve lounge at the F1 race in Miami with free apps and a full bar, and a special lounge area at EEEEEATS CON Miami with oysters and cocktails. Adam Frankel: Fortune contributor
Value for Chase Sapphire Reserve Cardholders
I appreciate these lounges and know how visiting a Chase Lounge can enhance any event experience. Given my personal experience visiting Chase Lounges at the PGA Championship, US Open and Olympics, I can’t imagine pulling the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card out of my wallet anytime soon.
If you are flying to/from New York, don’t forget to check out the Chase lounges: Sapphire Lounge by The Club at JFK on Etihad Airways and Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club at LaGuardia Airport.
The conclusion
Chase continues to put its cardmember experience first, as expressed in this quote from Jason Wynn, Head of Chase Travel: “Our cardmembers are always looking for unique and special touches to make them feel like VIPs while traveling, and the Visa Lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve is the perfect embodiment of how we make that possible. Being in Paris and having access to an oasis on the Seine with complimentary snacks, comfortable seating to watch live events on the big screen, and gorgeous views – these are the perfect ingredients to make a cardmember’s trip special.”
If you’re not already a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder, now is a good time to see if Chase’s upcoming event perks fit your schedule.
